Lord of the Grrr's by Lily Marie, Terra Wolf, Artemis Wolffe, Amelia Jade, Mercy May, Lily Thorn, Kit Tunstall, Emma Alisyn, Claire Ryann, Andie Devaux

walked in, giving Jet some good-natured grief for opening late. The three friends were regulars at the Quencher. They were power line workers and bear shifters as well, who spent their time ensuring the lines were in good working order and that there were no trees about to fall on them. They were also some of the few people in town he considered his friends.
    He apologized and went to pour them their drinks and get started on their meals. The three had been coming every weekday that he was open for well over a year now, so Jet often had their drinks ready and waiting if he knew they were coming. Today, because of the wonderful distraction that was Kailee, he was running behind.
    In the years he had owned the Quencher, Jet had never once opened late and it irked him that he had been fully able to open on time, but hadn’t. To counter this, he worked extra hard, aiming for perfect pours on his drink, and five-star quality food presentation on the meals he prepared. It was his little way of fixing the wrong that nobody but he seemed to care about.
    The evening progressed well, better than he had expected even. He wasn’t sure what it was, but the Quencher was packed early, far more people than he had expected to see. Jet and Kailee were both kept busy for several hours with requests for drinks and food. He could only smile, for it made him happy to see so many people enjoying themselves in his establishment. That was the best gift he could ask for.
    For now.
    He looked over at Kailee, a smile tugging at his cheeks as he watched her move from table to table, keeping up half a dozen different conversations all at one time with apparent ease. She seemed to be happy as well, sparking hope within him that she would choose to remain instead of finding some other workplace.
    Jet was busy clearing off a table in the far corner when the door opened yet again to admit someone else. He didn’t give it a second thought until he heard Kailee’s voice, stiff and formal across the distance.
    “Hello father, I’m glad you were able to stop by.”
    It took every ounce of control Jet had not to swivel in place and stare. Instead, he waited, listening intently, letting his bear come to the surface, to augment his human abilities. Anything her father said in reply was drowned out as a nearby group of drinkers erupted into loud, boisterous laughter at some joke or another.
    Forced to resort to his eyes, Jet slowly turned to face the direction of the door. Staring back at him was a face that was barely recognizable from when he last saw it. Beneath a pair of bushy eyebrows, however, was a set of eyes that he would never forget. They were the color of steel as they burned straight into him.
    Jet glared back, reminding himself that he was no longer a little street boy, but, in fact, a full-grown bear shifter. The distance dimmed the effect of it, but up close he would tower over this man now. The years had aged him, though the more he took in, the more Jet began to wonder if it was more his own perception that was skewed than anything. Jack no longer had any facial hair, and the traditional ball cap was missing as well, revealing a bald head.
    He was still powerful of frame, large for a normal human, but nothing compared to Jet’s massive size. The only thing he had to fear was the slight bulge beneath the Hawaiian themed button-up shirt he was wearing. It would hold a small caliber pistol, not enough to do harm to Jet, but he wasn’t worried about himself. The other human patrons in the bar could be seriously injured or killed if a gunfight erupted inside.
    Jet tensed, waiting to see what Jack would do. When his hand drifted towards his side, Jet knew it was now or never. A hand shot out, ripping a chair out from beneath a patron next to him, tumbling them to the floor. The heavy wood flew through the air towards Jack before he could close on his gun.
    Lunging forward, Jet’s keen eyes watched as Jack ducked the hurtling chair. He had